What Does Sound Look Like?

Before I can begin running analysis on the data we collected over the summer it first must be processed. While I may have dreamed of attending to data in the field (and to a degree that was done) the bulk of the data processing is being done retroactively. Preparing sound files for analysis is easily the most labor intensive part of this research phase.

We collected over 300 sound files, and a minimum of 248 of them require fine scale attention. This means that every vocalization our interns heard in the field while floating in Noble Stead must be listened to again during the verifying process, again as I measure its parameters, and yet again as it is placed into a broad vocal category. Sounds were initially categorized by ear as we intuitively began to recognize certain call types. They are further categorized, however, not by ear but by sight. For each sound listened to (once, twice, three times listened to) I create what’s called a spectogram- or a picture of the sound. This picture allows us to see the shape of the sound, the duration, the frequency, and the modulations. Obviously, things that look the same should sound the same. So, what do humpback whale calls look like? Like this-